Method of diffusing and disseminating poisonous gases



J. W. VAN METER. METHOD OF DIFFUSING AND mss EMINATING POISONOUS GASES.

APPLICATION FILED APR. H. 192i.

Patented Dec. 27, 1921.

lnvznron JAM: W. V411 flmn ATTORNEY UNITED STATES :rmrs W. van marina, or am rmcrsco, cmromrra.

METHOD OF DIII'UBING-AND DISSEM INATING TOISONOUB Specification at Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 27, 1921.

Application illed April 11, 1821. Serial No. 460,521.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES W. VAN METER, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at 2755 Clay street, city of San Francisco, in the county of San Francisco and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Methods of Diffusing and Disseminating Poisonous Gases, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention is an improved method of diffusing chlorin and disseminating poisonous gases, and relates to operations employing chlorin, either alone or in combinatlon with other chemical agents as for instance the production of chloro-cyanic or arsenical gases to. be used in fumigation or insecticide operations, animal extermination and the like.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a means of, diifusing chlorin and disseminating poisonous gases to render permeation more effective, to equalize the distribution of poisonous fumes over a given area and to provide carrying media for the killing agents used which .will insure a greater kill with a given amount of chemical ingredients.

Other objects include the provision of a visible danger warning by means of a dense 'tributed throughoutthe interior of the carsmoke which smoke also increasesthe eificiency of a gas such as cyanogen which is not visible and is highly poisonous, is very volatile evanescent, and easily affected by light.

Attention is directed to my copendin application for patent, Ser. No. 407 ,07 3 w erein I disclose a method of liberating cyanogen,

arsenical and other gases by the action of chlorin in the presence of metallic elements.

In the accompanying 1 sheet of drawings;

Figure 1 is a digrammatic'view in elevation of an apparatus'by which it is possible to carry out my method of diffusing chlorin and disseminatin the same and other gases.

2 is an en arged detail of a chemical cartr1dge used in my process for dilfusin chlorin and disseminating the same and other gases.

0 claim is made on the apparatus here shown the same being made the subject matter of my copendmg a plications for patents Serial No. 499,932, led September 12, 1921Serial No. 476,111, filed June 9, 1921; and Serial No. 407,07 3, filed, August 31, 1920.

Referrin to the drawings, Fig. 1, the numeral 1 in icates 'a chlorin cylinder of conventional type, provided with a service valve 2 adapted to,release chlorin under pressure to a flexible conduit 3.

The figure represents a fumigation operation wherein a tree 4: is to be subjected to gaseous fumes for the purpose of destroying pests such as scale, aphis and similar parasites.

The prevailing practice in such operation is to cover the tree to be fumigated with a tent or similar cover 6 adapted to confine the gas to a limited area.

By my method the gases are liberated near the base of the tree by the passage of chlorin from conduit 3 through a previously pre pared chemical cartridge 7 which is supported by a loop 8 on a staff 9 driven into the ground.

The conduit 3 at the end remote from the cylinder 2 engages a nipple 11 on a shell 12 which is provided with an internal bore tapered as lndicated at 13 for removably engai'ng one end of the cartridge 7.

s efore stated a chemical combustion is set up by the action of chlorin on metallic elements such as iron, arsenic, lead and zinc, in fine particles. 7

These elements indicated at 14 are distridge which is punctured at the top as indicated at 16 and at the bottom as shown, at 17 to facilitate the entrance of chlorin and discharge of gases and fumes generated within the cartridge.

At 18 I show sawdust particles which I use for a number of reasons, one of which is the furnishing of the required degree of moisture and another the production of smoke. Other materials possessing similar physical qualities might be substituted with equally satisfactory results.

These particles 18 serve to separate the metallic particles (finely divided iron or the like) and prevent precipitation of the same within the cartridge in handling.

Furthermore the sawdust in thecartridge separates the metallic particles and keeps them scattered throughout the cartridge in a manner adapted to ermit thorough access of the chlorin to t e metallic particles and insures uniform progressive combustion.

Thesawdust particles also contain moisture and being of an absorptive nature are convenient means of introducing moisture.

I prefer to moisten the sawdust and then mix a quantity of oil such as linseed 011 therewith as indicated at 20.

' This increases the efficiency of the sawdust in separating the metallic elements 14 which adhere thereto.

The sawdust and the oil with which it is coated are easily combustible and form a dense smoke screen which is at once a visible danger warning and a carrying medium for any gases which may be contained therein.

*umigation operations which employ cyanogen have heretofore been carrie on mainly by night, whereas by my method it may be employed in daylight by using a smoke envelop which serves to exclude light.

Again the smoke carries a high percentage of carbon particles, and b reason of the intense heat generated at t e time the smoke and carbon particles are liberated, these particles are impregnated with oyanogen' (provided of course that cyanid has been included in the cartridge content) with the result that the cyanogen is released slowly from the carbon partlcles and the dissemination thereof is more uniform over a given area and obviously a smaller 'guantity of cyanid compound may be use I find in practice. that several important objects are accomplished by! the method herein disclosed aside from the economy of operation.

The even distribution of poison over the fumigated area and the retarding of the liberation of the said poison by the carbon and smoke carrying media are of essential importance, in that as the smoke settles upon the tree the cyanogen from the carbon particles and other residue is liberated in close proximity to the parasite or other life to be destroyed.

I find that'it is of advantage to mix or coat the metallic particles with creosoteor material adapted to create an envelop of smoke.

2. The method of diffusing and disseminating chlorin gas which consists in aassing chlorin throu l1 finely divided metaliic particles and com ustible smoke producing matter containin moisture.

3. The met od of diffusing and dissemi- "nating chlorin gas which consists in passing chlorin throu h finely divided metal ic particles and com ustible smoke producing matter containingmoisture and oil.

4. That method of diffusing and disseminating poisonous gases which consists in passing chlorin through finely divided, metallic articles evenly distributed throughout fine y divided combustible material to which said metallic particles are held by an ad hesive material.

5. The method of diffusing and disseminating poisonous gases which may be generated or vaporized by the action of chlorin on metallic substances, which consists in creating by said action an envelop of smoke from combustible materials mixed with the elements of said gases volatilized by said action.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

JAMES W. VAN METER.

Certificate of Correction; It is hereby certified that in Letters Patent No. 1,401,292, granted December 27,

1921, upon the application of James W. Van Meter, of San Francisco, California, for an improvement in Methods of Diffusing and Disseminating Poisonous Gases, an error appears in the printed specification requiring correction as follows Page 2, line 57, claim 1 for the Word or read on; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same mayconform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signedand sealed this 20th day of June, D., 1922.

[m] KARL FENNING,

Acting C'owwmlsfioner of Patents. 

